BoatBanter.com - dock line size?

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Is there a general rule of thumb for determining how strong your dock lines
should be?

I have a 34 foot boat that weighs somewhere in the neighborhood of 19,000
lbs. I want to buy some dock lines to carry onboard for tying up at fuel
docks or the occasional restaurant etc. when I'm not in my slip. I really
don't want to have to untie the lines at my slip every time I leave, since
I'd have to find just the right adjustment again every time I return.

There are LOTS of sizes and strengths of line out there. What should I
really be looking at?

Thanks!

Gary

On Thu, 26 Aug 2004 17:24:51 GMT, "Gary"
wrote:
Is there a general rule of thumb for determining how strong your dock lines
should be?

I have a 34 foot boat that weighs somewhere in the neighborhood of 19,000
lbs. I want to buy some dock lines to carry onboard for tying up at fuel
docks or the occasional restaurant etc. when I'm not in my slip. I really
don't want to have to untie the lines at my slip every time I leave, since
I'd have to find just the right adjustment again every time I return.

There are LOTS of sizes and strengths of line out there. What should I
really be looking at?
=============================================

My old boat was about the same size and weight (33 ft 23,000#) and we
used 5/8 inch nylon lines for short term tie ups. For longer,
unattended docking I'd recommend 3/4 inch. My mooring lines were 7/8
with lots of chafing protection. Never had problems with any of that.

I once had a dock line break on a 34 ft sailboat in calm wind
conditions. It was 1/2 inch dacron braid (low stretch compared to
nylon). The breakage was caused by interaction of the boat with a
floating dock in response to a wake. The boat and dock were moving in
different directions and at different rates, causing the dock line to
snap like a rubberband with no warning. Fortunately I was next to the
boat when it happened and was able to quickly re-tie. All that is
offered by way of explanation for my conservative approach and use of
nylon line.

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...

With all due respect, adjusting and inspecting your dock lines should
become a habit.

One good storm is usually enough to make that lesson clear, especially if
one does not know how to tie spring lines.

I'll also add that no matter what size the boat, the owner should have
enough line to achieve proper throwing weight, and longer lines than would
appear necessary. At least once a week at the launch, I see some hapless
fool with 5 feet of line at bow & stern, trying to throw it 10 feet to
someone one the dock. I'll bet the money saved really feels good at that
moment.

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 26 Aug 2004 17:24:51 GMT, "Gary"
wrote:
Is there a general rule of thumb for determining how strong your dock
lines
should be?

I have a 34 foot boat that weighs somewhere in the neighborhood of 19,000
lbs. I want to buy some dock lines to carry onboard for tying up at fuel
docks or the occasional restaurant etc. when I'm not in my slip. I
really
don't want to have to untie the lines at my slip every time I leave,
since
I'd have to find just the right adjustment again every time I return.

There are LOTS of sizes and strengths of line out there. What should I
really be looking at?
=============================================

My old boat was about the same size and weight (33 ft 23,000#) and we
used 5/8 inch nylon lines for short term tie ups. For longer,
unattended docking I'd recommend 3/4 inch. My mooring lines were 7/8
with lots of chafing protection. Never had problems with any of that.

I once had a dock line break on a 34 ft sailboat in calm wind
conditions. It was 1/2 inch dacron braid (low stretch compared to
nylon). The breakage was caused by interaction of the boat with a
floating dock in response to a wake. The boat and dock were moving in
different directions and at different rates, causing the dock line to
snap like a rubberband with no warning. Fortunately I was next to the
boat when it happened and was able to quickly re-tie. All that is
offered by way of explanation for my conservative approach and use of
nylon line.

For temporary tieups I would use 1/2" at most. Easier to handle.

Gary wrote:
Is there a general rule of thumb for determining how strong your dock lines
should be?

Yes, The problem is that there are several rules of thumb and give
conflicting results. It also depends on what type of line you choose
(braid or laid).

I have a 34 foot boat that weighs somewhere in the neighborhood of 19,000
lbs.

You should have 1/2" or 5/8" liness... personally I'd get 1/2" laid
(3-strand), check them often, and count on replacing them sooner, rather
than 5/8" left in place forever.

Get white dock lines, or at most white with some colored patern. They
are much more visible. Don't get the black ones, they look cool but they
are hard to see at night or in the rain. It's also more difficult to
evaluate them for chafe.

BTW I also put spliced loops in BOTH ends of all my dock lines, so that
when coming in to a dock, if a stranger wants to "help" I can hand him a
loop and not have to trust my boat to his unknown knot-tying skill.

Lines that are too thick are stronger, but they are also heavier and
more awkward to handle.

... I want to buy some dock lines to carry onboard for tying up at fuel
docks or the occasional restaurant etc. when I'm not in my slip.

Umm, yeah. It's a safety issue... you need decent lines. Decent ground
tackle too.

... I really
don't want to have to untie the lines at my slip every time I leave, since
I'd have to find just the right adjustment again every time I return.

This isn't particularly good reasoning. You should have a good set of
dock lines, you should check them often. Re-tying them is not so much
trouble, think what a PITA it would be if your boat broke free.

If you don't want to tie it up properly, then you should get a lift.

There are LOTS of sizes and strengths of line out there. What should I
really be looking at?

You need 6 dock lines. 2 can be shorties, 20' or so. These will be used
for bow & stern breast lines, which don't need to be too long. Then you
need 2 spring lines, which need to be *at least* the length + the beam
of the boat. You won't always use all that length, but the times when
you do need it, there is no substitute (other than expensive fiberglass
repair & increased insurance rates). Then you need 2 more emergency
lines the same as your spring lines, or one double length one + a third
shorty. If you tie up in a slip to two outer pilings, with crossed stern
lines, you'll need two intermediate length lines for the stern, but they
will be of less use elsewhere when tying up.

This is probably more than you want to know, but less than you really
need to know. Got a copy of Chapman's?

Fair Skies
Doug King

"DSK" wrote in message
. ..

Got a copy of Chapman's?

By law, every boat should should come with a laminated card tied to
someplace conspicuous, telling the new owner about the Chapman book. I have
a newer one, but while packing to move to my new house, I found the copy my
dad bought me in 1968. It's got a whole chapter on proper uniforms for
hanging out at the yacht club. What a stitch! :-)

On 8/26/2004 12:33 PM, Doug Kanter wrote:

"DSK" wrote in message
. ..

Got a copy of Chapman's?

By law, every boat should should come with a laminated card tied to
someplace conspicuous, telling the new owner about the Chapman book. I have
a newer one, but while packing to move to my new house, I found the copy my
dad bought me in 1968. It's got a whole chapter on proper uniforms for
hanging out at the yacht club. What a stitch! :-)

We've got a 1942 edition on board our Chris. Some of the stuff is pretty
funny (Poly-whatsit fenders? Everyone knows fenders are made out of
hemp!), but the basics don't really change.

--
~/Garth - 1966 Glastron V-142 Skiflite: "Blue-Boat"
"There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing
as simply messing about in boats."
-Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows

On Thu, 26 Aug 2004 19:33:15 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
wrote:

"DSK" wrote in message
...

Got a copy of Chapman's?

By law, every boat should should come with a laminated card tied to
someplace conspicuous, telling the new owner about the Chapman book. I have
a newer one, but while packing to move to my new house, I found the copy my
dad bought me in 1968. It's got a whole chapter on proper uniforms for
hanging out at the yacht club. What a stitch! :-)

I have my father's Blue Jacket Manual from his hitch in the USCG in
1936.

It's very different from today's Blue Jacket Manual, although some
things are very similar.

Later,

Tom

I have a 1956 edition and a 1979 edition talk about a difference.

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
"DSK" wrote in message
. ..

Got a copy of Chapman's?

By law, every boat should should come with a laminated card tied to
someplace conspicuous, telling the new owner about the Chapman book. I
have
a newer one, but while packing to move to my new house, I found the copy
my
dad bought me in 1968. It's got a whole chapter on proper uniforms for
hanging out at the yacht club. What a stitch! :-)